New Daily Coronavirus Cases Lowest Since Mid-April In Virginia

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 439 additional cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, two days before Northern Virginia and Richmond will join the rest of the state in phase two reopening. The latest cumulative totals for Virginia are 52,177 cases, 5,272 hospitalizations and 1,514 deaths.

The 439 new cases accounted for the lowest increase since April 15, when 329 new cases were reported. The new cases are reported as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing numbers jumped by 7,492 since Tuesday. As of Wednesday, 395,972 tests (excluding antibody tests) have been completed in Virginia.

There were 131 new cases in the Northern Virginia region Wednesday. That includes 51 in the Fairfax Health District, 49 in the Prince William Health District, 15 in Arlington County, 10 in Alexandria and six in Loudoun County.

New cases have fluctuated by day, as 1,284 cases reported on June 7 represented the third highest day-to-day increase in Virginia. The highest number of new cases were 1,615 and 1,483 on May 26 and 25, respectively.

The Virginia Department of Health noted that there are about 13,000 backlogged tests being reported over several days starting on June 9. This may prompt an influx of results, VDH said in a news release.

The positive rate of tests is less than half of what it was at a mid-April peak. On June 6, the 7-day moving average was 9 percent. The highest statewide average had been 22.2 percent on April 20. As for Northern Virginia, the 7-day moving average was 12.6 percent on June 6, compared to the 35.9 percent peak on April 26.

Coronavirus hospitalizations have recently reached the lowest level since VDH made the data available in mid-April. On Wednesday, there were 1,155 hospitalized patients with confirmed or pending coronavirus test results, a slight drop from 1,169 reported Tuesday, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. There have been 6,826 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals, up from 6,677 on Tuesday.

The number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators also reached a new low since mid-April. As of Wednesday, 139 COVID-19 patients with confirmed or pending test results were on ventilators. Overall, 592 of 2,919 available ventilators are being used by Virginia hospital patients. This represents 20-percent use of ventilators.

COVID-19 patients in the intensive care units (ICU) fell below 300 for the first time in the data reporting period. There were 296 in the ICU as of Wednesday, compared to 422 on April 14.

Two hospitals are reporting difficulty in obtaining or replenishing personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours. This is the first time since May 2 that hospitals reported troubles with securing PPE.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam outlined a phased plan for reopening Pre-K to 12 schools. The three school reopening phases can align with which reopening stage Virginia is in, but school districts and private schools must submit plans for following state guidelines for phases two and three. All students can receive in-person instruction during phase three, but schools must follow social distancing measures and offer remote options for high-risk students and staff.

Most of Virginia has been in phase two of reopening since June 5. The remaining areas, Northern Virginia and Richmond, will move to phase two reopening on June 12.

Here are the latest cumulative case updates for our coverage areas as of Wednesday:

• Alexandria: 2,125 cases, 216 hospitalizations, 47 deaths
• Arlington County: 2,280 cases, 394 hospitalizations, 121 deaths
• Fairfax County: 12,746 cases, 1,451 hospitalizations, 422 deaths
• Fairfax City: 69 cases, seven hospitalizations, six deaths
• Falls Church: 56 cases, 11 hospitalizations, eight deaths
• Loudoun County: 3,180 cases, 196 hospitalizations, 67 deaths
• Manassas: 1,262 cases, 79 hospitalizations, 12 deaths
• Manassas Park: 360 cases, 40 hospitalizations, six deaths
• Prince William County: 6,376 cases, 564 hospitalizations, 118 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 194 cases, 23 hospitalizations, no deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 723 cases, 51 hospitalizations, 10 deaths
• Stafford County: 831 cases, 84 hospitalizations, five deaths

SEE ALSO:

• Northam Announces School Reopening Plan, Phase 2 For NoVA
• Ventilator Use For Virginia Coronavirus Patients Steadily Falling